Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S R Benatar

Publications and source records attributed to S R Benatar.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Medical ethics in times of war and insurrection: rights and duties.

In this paper I shall take the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols as my point of departure and link these with the International Declaration of Human Rights as a statement of faith and of aspirations.... The second part of my paper will focus on medical morality with brief reference to various languages of moral discourse and to differences in conceptual logic which underpin debates on duties and rights with particular reference to the circumstances of conflict. While acknowledging the value of talking of rights as primary I shall also suggest that the shift away from discourse on duties and obligations as primary undermines the likelihood of super-erogatory moral action. I shall conclude by emphasizing the centrality of acceptance by the State and the military of their duty to the injured and to medical personnel caring for them, if man's inhumanity to man, particularly evident during times of war, is to be kept out of our concern for each other as human beings even when nations are pitted against each other in the ongoing, but hopefully not eternal, struggle for material and ideological power.

Altruism↗
PubMed1992

Dying and 'euthanasia'.

Medical progress, secularisation of life, growing acceptance of individual human rights (including the right to refuse medical treatment) and of shared decision-making in medicine have focused public attention on the ways in which life may, and perhaps even ought to, be allowed to end in our complex modern era. Intense and thoughtful bio-ethical debate over many years has 'unpacked' the many different understandings and interpretations of the word euthanasia. The consequent conceptual clarification together with recognition and acknowledgement of psychological implications has facilitated a growing rational consensus on openly accepting the withholding and withdrawing of treatment (under defined conditions) within the realm of sound medical practice. This is clearly distinct from assisted suicide and active euthanasia which are generally considered unacceptable perversions of medical practice. Given the ability to sustain life for prolonged periods, often in a permanent state of unconsciousness, the unrealistic expectations of some medical personnel and the lay public, the severe constraints on health care facilities in South Africa and the totally inadequate allocation of resources for highly effective medical treatments, it is appropriate to re-open public debate on the limits of 'striving officiously to keep alive' and on the distinction between 'allowing to die' and 'killing'. Concern that 'rational' arguments reflect moral decay rather than moral progress keeps the debate open and focuses attention on some 'slippery slope' consequences.

Consensus↗
PubMed1991

Levels of care needed by medical inpatients in a teaching hospital.

Medical inpatients in a teaching hospital ward were studied daily for 2 weeks. The registrar responsible for each patient decided each day what level of care would be most appropriate, and what elements of care were needed for the patient on that day. From their documented assessments on 308 of 458 recorded days registrars considered that 54.5% of patient-days (168 of 308 days) could appropriately have been spent at a lower of level of care than the academic hospital, had such beds been available. The assessments of the registrars in the study ward were similar to assessments of all medical registrars in all other general medical wards in the hospital. Professional staff in the study ward recorded task duration each time any work was done for a patient. Nurses spent 23.9% more time per patient on those whom registrars thought could be treated at lower levels. Doctors spent 15.0% more time per patient on those whose presence in the hospital registrars considered appropriate. Health care could be provided more economically if more lower-level facilities were available. This could perhaps also be achieved with reorganisation of care within a teaching hospital but steps would have to be taken to ensure maintenance of continuity of care and staff-patient relationships.

Hospitals, Teaching↗
PubMed1991

Academic boycott--political strategy or moral imperative? Selective support as a justifiable alternative.

Academic boycott has been justified as an appropriate political strategy in the struggle against the oppression of apartheid. Moral outrage against racist policies has led to the claim that academic boycott is a morally imperative component of a broader sanctions policy. This claim has neither been substantiated by a reasoned ethical argument nor weighted against an ethically justifiable approach that is consistent with universal humanitarian aspirations and which allows rejection of apartheid to be coupled to constructive endeavours.

Ethics, Medical↗